Chapter 127
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Translator: True Detective
Chapter: 127
Chapter Title: Time Attack
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Keyeek! Kick!
While Han Minguk agonized over whether to fight or retreat, a peculiar screech from red birds suddenly pierced his ears.
He turned toward the monsters and spotted one of Garuda's avatars—the one without feathers on its head—staring right at him.
What the hell? Is it interested because I'm a guy?
It wasn't the only one acting strange. All three avatars were fixated on Minguk, which was oddly specific.
That was when it happened.
Kick! Kee-kick! Kick!
The creatures sneered, their lips curling mockingly. The eyes of all three monsters gazing at Minguk arched in clear derision.
"......"
It was unmistakable mockery.
"Guess I have to catch 'em now. These little chicks need a good frying to wise up."
A hollow laugh escaped him. Backing down from such blatant provocation wouldn't befit the raid leader who'd claimed a World First Kill. Besides, a Legendary-grade class stone dangled as the reward.
Minguk ground his teeth and turned to So-jeong, his eyes blazing as he glared at the monsters.
"How many spare Revival Stones do we have?"
"Pardon? You're going to take them on?"
"We can't just turn back after coming this far. Not with the dungeon rewards on the line—and all the time we've invested."
Plus, it was time to show them just how terrifying a hero he could be.
"Fair enough. We've got plenty. The World Hero Association's supply and the Vietnamese government's are untouched. We could handle about seventy tries right now."
"That's more than enough."
"No strategy, though. You sure?"
Minguk nodded firmly, his gaze still locked on Garuda's avatars.
Trash like that? He'd figure out a strategy in twenty—no, fifteen tries. No matter how they flew, they were just 【B – 1】 level.
"Can't retreat from the final boss without a plan. Especially when it's Garuda's avatars."
"Ah... Yeah... Yeah?!"
So-jeong nodded absently at first, then yelped in shock. She quickly composed herself and rallied the team.
"Briefing... No intel, so nothing much. Focus on mapping their attack patterns. Without prior info, expect multiple wipes unlike past raids. Steel yourselves."
"Just stall for time?"
"T-Tanya! If we feared death, we wouldn't be heroes. No issue!"
"Knew it. The only unlisted boss on Hero Pad is Garuda's avatars... How'd we miss that?"
Luckily—or perhaps inevitably—the GGW team showed no hesitation despite knowing the foes were Garuda's avatars. Their deep trust in Minguk fueled it.
"Anyway, Garuda's avatars..."
All eyes turned to the battlefield.
In the vast space, three red birds flitted about aimlessly.
They seemed indifferent to Minguk and the GGW crew, but the moment anyone stepped into their territory, those eyes would ignite red with ferocious assault. No doubt.
"Similar looks, but distinct traits. The biggest one. The one with crest feathers spiking skyward. And... the bald-headed one. Let's call 'em Big, Crest, and Baldie for simplicity."
"Solid. Big, Crest, Baldie."
So-jeong nodded approvingly. Simple, memorable names. As they memorized the enemies' appearances, Yuna piped up curiously.
"Birds go bald too?"
"Duh. Ever heard of a bald eagle?"
"Yeah. Careful, though. Bald ones are always stupidly strong in lore. This guy's got some special ability, probably."
Giselle and Na-yeon answered Yuna's question with grim seriousness. Wariness etched their faces as they eyed the bald red bird.
Yuna gulped in tandem.
"......Boss monsters all have special patterns. You idiots."
Minguk shook his head at the girls' silly exchange and turned to the tanks.
If a dealer could tank, they'd peel them off one by one for a slow grind. But no position-switchers here.
So Tanya took Big, the toughest-looking, while Hyun-ah handled Crest and Baldie.
"Ranged dealers, prioritize Crest first. Kim So-jeong, stand by. As melee, slot in damage based on patterns you see. Safety first."
Positions roughly set.
Zero intel on boss monsters meant no clear strategy path.
Clustering for AoE risked overwhelming the tanks, so they spaced the two tanks apart.
Thus began the first raid against Garuda's avatars.
Keyeek! Kick!!!
The instant GGW heroes breached their domain, the three birds' eyes glowed crimson. Unknown shrieks echoed as the monsters charged chaotically.
"Here we go! Polar Bear's charging!!!"
Mana swirled around shield-wielding Tanya at the front. Big reacted to the taunt, rearing back its head before slamming forward.
Kwaaaang!!!
A thunderous boom. Tanya skidded back behind her massive shield, 30% HP vaporized in one hit.
A skill?
As Minguk healed her, he replayed Big's attack in his mind. Non-tank classes would've insta-died from that power.
If that was Big's basic attack, this raid would be brutal. Fortunately, it seemed like a special pattern—not too frequent, though.
"Keep it coming!"
"Taste Russia's fiery bite!!!"
Tanya swung her huge shield, holding Big's aggro relentlessly. But she wasn't just a punching bag.
A tank praised even in Young Revolution, she cataloged Big's every move, rapidly decoding patterns.
Hyun-ah struggled more. The duo of Crest and Baldie hit harder than expected.
Pa-at!
Crest's flung wing feather grazed Hyun-ah's cheek. A hair's breadth dodge, but deadly close. Danger didn't end there.
"Watch out!"
At the shout, Hyun-ah reflexively surged mana into her forward-thrust shield. Baldie's headbutt followed.
Dae-aeng!!!
"Kyak?!"
The piercing shock damaged her semicircular canals; ears rang, vertigo hit, body froze.
Only cozy healing mana enveloping her let her move again.
"These bastards hit harder than they look?!"
Hyun-ah flailed her shield wildly, yelling.
Crest's ranged feather barrages were manageable—focus and dodge. Baldie's headbutt was the killer.
Even blocked, the impact stunned for seconds. A follow-up from Crest could near-death her.
"Heavy Defense (B)! H-Heal, quick!!!"
Without veteran high-difficulty raid experience and flawless healer support, even Hyun-ah would've died.
Tougher than expected...
While the team barely held Garuda's avatars, Minguk brainstormed tactics in his head.
"Need to reassign tanks."
Let Baldie solo—its stuns crippled tanks. Tanya soloing Big and Crest seemed better.
Big's hits threatened, but infrequent; no other dangers yet.
In crises, Guardian Knight Hyun-ah could shield Tanya with Hope's Shield.
But duoing Baldie risked instant peril from headbutts. Decision made—act.
This try: Probe max intel.
"Tanya! Grab Crest's aggro!"
"Got it!!!"
At raid leader Minguk's command, Tanya hurled a mana orb at Crest without hesitation.
It rattled Crest's head perfectly. Mid-assault on Hyun-ah, Crest shook violently and turned hostile on Tanya.
"Kendall, dedicated to Tanya."
"Yes!"
Crest's damage rivaled the strongest in 【B – 1】.
Tank burden immense, but no dealer threats yet. Dealers like So-jeong hammered Crest freely, especially ranged shining like fish in water.
"90%!"
"85% down! 80 now!"
Crest's HP melted smoothly.
Yet Minguk scanned vigilantly. Aside from high damage, unremarkable boss-tier.
That damage demanded top healers, but...
Kang Chae-young wouldn't warn me about punks this mild.
Then Crest dipped below 70%.
With Tanya peeling Crest, Hyun-ah had breathing room. She blocked Baldie's headbutt with mana-charged shield, stabbing her sword in. Patterns familiarizing, melee openings emerged.
What the...?
Behind Baldie, a massive red feather drifted unnaturally from thin air.
"Their feather?"
Too huge for that. Glanced up—no source visible.
Hero Academy taught: Never miss changes against uncharted bosses.
"Raid leader! Feather falling there!"
Hyun-ah's call let Minguk spot the red feather behind Baldie too.
A giant feather swayed side-to-side, plummeting. Eerily unnatural.
Bad vibe...
Minguk's hands moved instinctively, patterning a team shield as danger screamed.
"Giselle! AoE Barrier!"
"Huh? W-Wait!"
Minguk's abrupt order cut Giselle's heal cast; she chanted AoE Barrier.
Too late—the feather hit ground.